RICHMOND has made it three wins from its first three games of the season for the first time since 1995, overpowering the Western Bulldogs by 67-points at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Brett Deledio's 65m rapid-fire goal came within just 11 seconds of the opening bounce and his long-range bomb set the tone for a switched on Tigers unit.
Richmond took a 20-point lead in to quarter time, before extending that margin to 32 points at the major break.
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They scooted away from a tiring Bulldogs outfit in the second half, piling on eight goals to three in the third term to take charge of the contest, and going on to win 20.15 (135) to 10.8 (68).
Dustin Martin has often threatened to tear a game apart and against the Bulldogs he broke free from the chain placed on him early this season.
Martin's zip and conviction provided the stimulus for the Tigers, as he collected 35 touches and kicked two goals.
The Bulldogs struggled to match the Tigers' raised intensity after the major break, as they buckled under the weight of Richmond's inside 50 entries (62-39).
Along with Martin, the typically industrious Brett Deledio (27 touches and three goals) and Trent Cotchin (36 disposals) spurred the Tigers with real drive out of their engine room.
Jack Riewoldt (five goals) and Luke McGuane (three) also took it in turns to wax and wane in the forward line.
For the Bulldogs, Ryan Griffen worked tirelessly (30 touches) and Liam Jones tallied four goals in one of his best games for the club.
Adam Cooney also worked overtime for the Bulldogs and topped his work off with a classy third-quarter goal.
But it was Richmond's powerful stoppage work that allowed them to dictate terms and their ability to not allow the Bulldogs players any easy outlet kicks was a strong point of emphasis.
Pleasingly for Richmond fans, the club made it all the way to the preliminary final the last time it started a season this well in 1995. Going on Sunday's performance, history might just find a way of repeating itself.
The Tigers inspired early-season form is set to be tested at the MCG next Saturday as it battles Collingwood in what shapes as one of the games of the season so far.
The Bulldogs, on the other hand, face a tough trip to Adelaide to try to correct their 1-2 record.
RICHMOND 4.9 7.11 13.14 20.15 (135)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 2.1 3.3 6.5 10.8 (68)
GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 5, Deledio 3, McGuane 3, S. Edwards 2, Martin 2, Knights, Houli, Jackson, Tuck, Maric
Western Bulldogs: Jones 4, Cooney 2, Stevens, Griffen, Giansiracusa, Dahlhaus
BEST
Richmond: Martin, Deledio, Cotchin, Houli, Maric, Morris, McGuane
Western Bulldogs: Cooney, Griffen, Jones, Morris, Wallis
INJURIES
Richmond: Jake Batchelor (ankle) replaced in selected side by Chris Knights
Western Bulldogs: Ayce Cordy (back tightness) replaced in selected side by Tom Campbell, Easton Wood (hamstring), Dickson (ankle)
SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Chris Knights replaced by Brandon Ellis in the fourth quarter
Western Bulldogs: Easton Wood (hamstring) replaced by Clay Smith in the first quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stewart, Leppard, Kamolins
Official crowd: 44,045 at Etihad Stadium
